Integrated Pest Management Success: Restoring a High-Street Retail Store

Sector: Retail Store

Specialist Proofing Technicians: Canine Rodent Detection Team

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is crucial for retail stores, especially those handling food – to protect product quality, ensure regulatory compliance, and uphold brand reputation. Ineffective pest control can lead to severe business disruptions, regulatory penalties, and damage to reputation, particularly in light of current legislation restricting the use of rodenticides, external control methods, and glue boards. As part of an IPM strategy, detection dogs identify rodent-heavy areas and confirm where no rodent activity is present, helping teams avoid unnecessary baiting and focus efforts precisely where they’re needed.

Overview

Located on a bustling high street and surrounded by restaurants and cafés, the retail store experienced a significant rodent infestation. The abundance of food waste and structural vulnerabilities provided ideal conditions for rodent activity, making pest control particularly challenging.

Key contributing factors included:

Cluttered storage areas and inaccessible stock zones.
Gaps and cracks around utility pipes and rear access points.
Inconsistent cleaning routines, especially in food prep areas.
Poorly maintained refuse areas at the rear of the store.

Action Plan

Our teams implemented a thorough 4-point plan to resolve the infestation:

Detection and Harbourage Removal: Specialist Terrier detection dogs were brought in to inspect the store and surrounding perimeter, including storerooms, display units, and staff areas. With their acute sense of smell and agility, the Terriers located multiple hidden nests. Ferrets were used in particularly complex spaces, such as under the refrigeration units, to flush out rodents for swift removal by the Terriers. This integrated approach led to the humane dispatch of 7 rats, providing rapid relief for the store.
Baiting Programme: Rodent activity hotspots – such as ceiling voids and under-floor areas – were treated using rodenticide, chosen for its speed and effectiveness. The baiting was supported by the removal of food waste and sealing of stock, significantly reducing attractants for rodents.
Deep Cleaning: After treatment, a full-scale deep clean was undertaken. This included disinfecting affected zones with biocidal solutions and paying particular attention to food handling areas, storerooms, and the staff kitchenette. The cleaning ensured that the store met health and safety standards and removed lingering odours that could attract rodents.
Proofing Measures: A building inspection identified multiple access points. These were promptly sealed using galvanised steel plates, fine mesh over air vents, and cement infills for floor-level gaps. Door sweeps were also installed at back entrances to prevent entry through loading areas. Notably, the dogs detected the ingress points and structural defects, whose superior sense of smell enabled them to identify subtle odour trails and nesting cues that might otherwise have been missed. These long-term proofing actions
now safeguard the store from future intrusions.

Results

All rodents were successfully removed from the store and its immediate surroundings. Ongoing rodent ingress has been significantly minimised thanks to robust proofing and a hygienic environment. With open entrances being staff-supervised and footfall-heavy, the likelihood of reinfestation has dramatically dropped. The removal of internal harbourage points means any rodent entering the premises would find no viable shelter or food source, encouraging them to leave the premises swiftly. This comprehensive approach has restored the store’s operational integrity and customer confidence.

Conclusion & Future Plans

Sustaining these results requires high housekeeping standards. Regular cleaning, correct food storage, and proactive waste management are now non-negotiable practices. Given the store’s location, external baiting remains essential. Scheduled monitoring and replenishment of bait stations around the premises will be carried out to ensure early intervention should any new activity be detected. This ongoing vigilance will help preserve a pest-free, welcoming environment for staff and customers alike.

Need support with a pest challenge?

Effective pest management is about more than eliminating problems, it’s about safeguarding your people, products, and reputation. At Vergo, our integrated approach combines advanced detection techniques, effective control methods, and long-term proofing to deliver sustainable results.

Get in touch with our expert team today to arrange a site assessment and take the first step towards a pest-free environment.

Get a quote

Thank you for the quote request

Email us

Thank you for your email